React vs Angular: Which Framework Should You Learn First?

On the other hand, Google created and maintains the whole framework known as Angular. It provides a comprehensive toolkit for creating intricate, expansive web applications straight out of the box and is constructed with TypeScript. The key features for this include two way data binding, dependency injection and build in form validation. This one is definitely more structured than React. This means that there is a proper way in which you have to do everything. For teams that are working on large scale applications, this is very useful, but for people who are new to it or just starting out, it can seem a bit overwhelming.

1.      Learning Curve

The learning curve is the most important factor that you have to consider. React has a relatively gentler learning curve, because you can start off small and then keep learning as you move further. It focuses on UI development, so you don’t have to learn the framework together all at once. But you do need additional tools if you want to work further on this and complete a whole application. Angular is slightly more difficult to learn, which means that you will need some time for this so that you can first get very comfortable with TypeScript and other modules first. This helps make your process a lot easier and more streamlined as well, specially for larger projects.

2.      Job Market and Demand

Although Angular and React developers are both in great demand, React frequently outperforms Angular in terms of popularity and job postings. React is still the most popular web framework, but Angular has experienced a slower growth curve in previous years, according to Stack Overflow’s 2023 Developer Survey.

Startups and contemporary businesses that favour adaptable and lightweight solutions frequently use React. However, Angular’s strong features and structure make it the preferred choice for many enterprise-level organisations. React might lead you more opportunities if you want to freelance on a range of tasks or get hired fast. Angular is a powerful tool if you want to work with huge organisations or corporate settings.

3.      Performance

Both React and Angular perform very well when they are used correctly. React using a virtual DOM, which makes UI rendering easier and leads to great performance with dynamic interfaces. Angular uses a real DOM which includes many features like change detection and Ahead of Time compilation which makes the performance so much better. For most applications, there is no difference in terms of the performance.

4.      Community and Ecosystem

React has a huge community, which makes it easier to get access to learning resources and help. Angular has a smaller community. But since the framework is complete, you don’t have to look for third party libraries, which makes it easier. This is a big plus for those who want a consistent toolset.

If you are thinking of which one you should learn first, then as a beginner, you should surely learn React first. But if you already have an idea about how this works, then you should learn Angular first. It is all about where you stand and what your requirements are like.